Colin and Heavenlee started training the kids in fighting skills. Heavenlee also started teaching them to dance. At first, Carlisle and Baby didn't see eye to eye about her teaching the boys to dance. Until she reminded him that her favorite actor, Michael Greyeyes was a dancer, which was one reason his career had advanced. Carlisle couldn't find anything against that. Now he's proud when his kids give their monthly dance recital. He even watches them train a couple of times a week.
After training the kids' Colin walks into Heavenlee's office. She is on the floor in the Cobra yoga pose. “Have you made your list out?” He's standing beside her
She lays flat on the mat. “Oh yeah, the list" She shook her head and sat up. Father, my first kill was when I was fifteen; the three men attacked Victor. I still, to this day, don’t know their names. But the first one I have a name to happen in a match in the underground. I didn’t mean to kill that girl. But she wouldn’t stay down. She kept getting up and coming at me. The more I knocked her ass down, the harder she would punch me in my kidney. I lost it and snapped her neck by doing a butterfly kick to her head. Draya Pique was her name. That’s all I know about her. I didn’t take to the time to find anything out about her personal life.” Heavenlee looks at her father.
Colin is nodding his head while reading her lists. The names of the boys that were on the football field. I see you only listed Carlos. Carlisle’s cousin. Then you have five question marks. “ He looks up at her.
"Maybe Carlisle knows the rapists' names.” She goes into the Boat pose
“Okay, I’ll check with him. We’re about to head out to the Knight brother's company. Carlisle called Marcus and changed the meeting to today since we're going there with men to protect them. He doesn't want to be away from you and the kids too much."
She nods her head, looking at her father walking out of her office.
Carlisle meets Colin as he’s walking into the hall. “Is Baby okay?”
“Yes, you know your wife. But you know that she isn’t letting either one of us know if she isn't until she wants us to know. I’ll be in the car.” Colin is looking at Pam standing in the hall with her arms folded and looking at him. “Son, what’s going on with your mother?"
“She is still talking about skinning someone." Carlisle leans close to Colin. "Did you know she has a pistol strapped to her ankle?”
Colin chuckles. “Yes, but I took the bullets out. I didn’t want her to shoot herself.”
Carlisle laughs as he walks into Baby’s office. He smiles as he walks over and kisses her head. “Buford finally calmed Jody down. I told Al, Ray, and Arc to bring their families here. They will be staying in the guest houses. Just be on the safe side.”
“That’s a good idea. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I sent more men to the shelter. We both know that Hattie isn’t leaving that place for any reason. I also have two men on Raymond and Jerry. “ She’s looking at a worried Ana walking into the room.
“Carlisle, why did the jerks send the package to my man? He isn’t family or close to Heavenlee” Ana looks at him, confused.
He hugs her. “Some damn way the bastard knows that Baby loves you. The way to hurt you is to harm Jackson. We both know that Baby will do anything to keep you safe and will protect you.”
Ana looks at Heavenlee with tears in her eyes.
Heavenlee stood up and held her arms out to her. Ana walks in her arms. Heavenlee wraps her arms around her. “Remember what I told you that night in my car?”
“Uh-huh,” Ana nods her head.
“That hasn't changed. I’ll always be here for you. That also means protecting the one that you love. Now stop worrying. I promise nothing will happen to Jackson. Even if we have to move him here to keep him safe.” Heavenlee looks at Carlisle shaking his head. She nods her head.
He takes a deep breath “ Baby is right. Now stop crying. I believe Jackson is waiting for you.”
Ana kisses his and Heavenlee's cheeks and leaves the room.
“Baby, you owe me big time for agreeing to let that young man live here.” He pulls her into him and pats her butt.
“Anything you want, Babe. Ana and Jackson aren't s****l yet. They both have agreed to wait until they're married. Now be good at the Knight’s company” She kisses his cheek.
He chuckles. “I’m always good, Baby, always.”
“Yeah, right” She kisses him.
*****
Marcus told Joseph about the package and that Heavenlee sent people to the office to guard them. Both are just hanging up the phones from their wives. Lauren was hysteric and started crying. At the same time, Nora was calm and reassured Marcus not to worry about her. She will check on Lauren.
“Damn, man, Lauren lost it. “Joseph sits back in the chair with his head in his hands. He’s worried about his wife.
Marcus taps his desk and looks at the package. “Who can blame her? But Nora is taking care of her. Hopefully, she’ll give her something to calm her nerves. Damn, I never thought anyone knew about Heaven and my dates besides you and her father." His phone beeps, and he sees that it’s from Heavenlee. He reads the text, “Okay. Be careful”
“Man, for someone to know about you two, that means this s**t goes way back.” Joseph rubs his forehead. "At least she still cares about you enough to protect our family and us. I wonder what is Carlisle's intake on this?”
“s**t, they even referred to her as Nikki. It’s no telling who is behind this s**t. As for Carlisle, he’s taking it well. He should be here any minute.” Marcus looks at his watch.
Joseph is about to say something when Freedia Marcus's secretary announces that Carlisle and Colin are there to see them.
Marcus slides the note off the desk and folds it. Joseph looks at him, wondering why he is doing that.
Carlisle and Colin walk in and shakes the two brother's hand. Colin introduces them to the men and two women. Once Colin was done. Carlisle, Marcus, and Joseph start discussing building a new mall in New York City. But they will not be using funds from CB. This time they will be using one of Carlisle's companies. Carlisle wants to see if the assholes will come after his company as they are doing his Baby’s companies. All the men agreed that was a good idea since the jerks seemed to know much about Heavenlee's life.
Carlisle's phone rings and he excuses himself when he hears, “Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.” Marcus knew then that it was Heaven because that was the song that she and Carlisle danced to the night at their business dinner. Marcus gives Colin the folded note. Joseph looks at the two men and makes a mental note to ask Marcus, besides being threatened, what else was in the note.
“It seems that my son is asking for me. He refuses to take a nap. CJ is a daddy’s boy. Chloe teases him about it. I call her Baby Jr. Poor Cam takes being a big brother very seriously. He’s always trying to keep the peace. “ Carlisle laughs, then he looks at Marcus. “I know the bastards targeted you because of your and Baby’s friendship. I have to admit that I’m not particularly happy about a bastard knowing that Baby cares about you. But then, Baby is the kind of woman that takes her family and friends to her heart. With that being said, you two, be careful. Colin is working on locating the sons of bitches.” Carlisle shakes Marcus and Joseph’s hands before he and Colin leave.
Joseph turns to look at his brother as soon as the door closes.” What the hell was in that note that you didn’t want Carlisle to know.”
“It stated that Heaven was in love with me. Heaven and I agree that he shouldn’t know that. After all, that is in the past.” Marcus nods his head. “Our feelings for each other need to stay hidden. I don't want Nora to know about it either."
*****
“Man, why in the hell did you agree to work with assholes that we don’t know a damn thing about?” a 5’7 bald medium complexion man yells and hits the wall. “Bull s**t, pure bullshit,” he points at a 6’1 dark, complexion man with long dreadlocks.
“I would agree with the devil himself at a chance to kill that b***h. Look at what she cost us. Friends, brothers, and cheddar. I’m not talking about chump change; I mean a lot of cheddar. This asshole is footing the bill, then. Why not take advantage of it? “Not to mention her pretty boy. My plan is to get rid of them both. “ The man looks out the window. “So if we finally have to join forces to end Heavenlee Brady Manzo, so be it. You do know what they say” The man with dreadlocks looks at the bald man.
The man frowns “what, who says?”
“Revenge is a dish that is best served cold. That expression originated by Author Eugene Sue. It’s in his novel Memoirs of Matilda." He smiles and picks up a gun.
“There your ass go speaking that sophisticated education crap. Where I’m from, we shoot a person first and don’t ask any damn questions. We already know that is the only way to take that b***h ass out.” The bald man waves the man away from him. “Keep listening to those dumb ass fuckers that we don’t know will get a brother killed.”
The other man put the Uzi in his desk drawer and walked over to the bald man. He pats his shoulder. “Hell, I’m too good-looking and too young to die.”
“Yeah, right. Your ass keeps thinking that s**t and sees where it will get you.” The bald man walks out of the door. “Remember I said this is bullshit.”
“Take your ass out there and sell some meat.” The man walks out, looking at his customers and one of his employees grinding some beef up. "damn, business is good today." His eyes go to a little Asian woman walking into the butcher shop.
She’s carrying a large brown envelope. She’s talking to the lady that is working the register then she looks at the man with the dreadlocks.
“I hope I don’t have to kill someone in front of my customers. " He mumbles, looking at the Asian woman walking in his direction.
When she reaches him, she holds out the envelope. He frowns, looking at her. He’s waiting on her to say something, but she doesn’t say anything as she shovels the envelope into his hand and walks toward the door. “Now, what in the hell was that about?” He’s looking at the woman, and then he looks at the envelope.
"I have no idea. She didn't say. Hell, she didn't say a damn thing." He looks at the envelope and opens it. "Well, now, what do we have here? " He's looking at pictures of Heavenlee, Carlisle, their kids, and Ana in Bora Bora. He starts looking at the rest of the pictures. Colin, Pam, Matt, Lynn, Marcus, Joseph, Al, and Ray were among some of the pictures. One picture caught his attention. "Where in the hell have I seen this building? I know this place, but from where?" He mumbles